Bipolar disorder decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete information and missing records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, Schizoaffective disorder, and Bipolar disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's reported in-service personal assault and stressors, as well as to obtain a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her psychiatric conditions. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to increased ratings for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), right Achilles tendonitis with tarsal tunnel release, left Achilles tendonitis with residuals and tarsal tunnel release, and bipolar disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depression, is service connected as secondary to his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran does not have congestive heart failure, PTSD, or bipolar disorder that is related to his military service.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD, are related to his active service. The Board finds that these conditions were likely caused by substance abuse during service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms most nearly approximate total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bipolar disorder and because additional evidence was submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other diagnosed conditions, has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment warranting a 70 percent rating since January 14, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, was denied as there is no evidence of a recognized in-service stressor or chronic disease related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and reserve service records. The claims will be re-adjudicated based on the additional evidence.

The Board determined that the Veteran's preexisting psychiatric disorder did not undergo a clinically-identifiable increase in severity during his period of active military service, and therefore concluded that it was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bipolar disorder. The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and need for an addendum to the VA examination.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a final decision can be made on the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, mood disorder, depression, and anxiety disorder. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records, provide a VA examination, and readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a C&P examination. The claim will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Board has found the evidence currently of record sufficient to establish that the Veteran's bipolar disorder, manic-depressive type, had its onset during active duty for training and granted service connection.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various psychiatric and substance abuse disorders, including bipolar disorder, adjustment disorder, and polysubstance abuse. The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to address the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD based on in-service personal assault. The VA will obtain relevant medical records from SSA and schedule examinations to determine if any current psychiatric or neurological conditions are related to service.